The last major repair work on the U.S. Capitol took place in 1960. Since then, the dome has become weathered and worn. The Architect of the Capitol group reports the dome has more than 1,000 narrow breaks in its surface and other damage.

The dome was completed around 1863. U.S. Senate Historian Don Ritchie says the dome’s cast iron frame(铸铁钢架) is at special risk of weathering. “The capitol dome, being cast iron, has been hit by lightning countless times. And so the present construction(=building) is to repair the leaks, to fill in the cracks, to take off unnecessary layers of paint.”

Workers are removing old paint. They covered a large part of the building in plastic and a special cloth to protect workers from the wind and other elements. Much of the work is done at night, when lawmakers are not in the building.

Some recent visitors to the Capitol were unhappy about its present appearance. They had hoped to get a picture of the usually shining dome. Joyce said, “It was dramatic, and very fantastic, and all white, but when I come here today, it is under construction so my family cannot see it clearly. It is kind of a disappointment.”

Others were more understanding of the repairs. Rick Jones, another visitor, said, “It’s a little inconvenient for us not to see the dome but you have to think about the future and the people will be coming to this place for centuries...and you know, there just needs to be preventive maintenance(保养). I am not upset with that at all.”

The project is expected to take more than two years to complete. The dome should be ready for the inauguration of a new president in January 2017.

【1】We can learn from the passage that the United States Capitol Dome is ______.

A.worn by exposure to the weather

B.surrounded by many repair projects

C.well kept and in excellent condition

D.regarded as a symbol of the U.K. government

【2】According to Don Ritchie, the present repair work involves ______.

a. stopping the leaks

b. changing the frame

c. removing the old paints

d. replacing the lights e. filling the narrow breaks

A.abcB.bcd

C.bdeD.ace

【3】Which of the following can describe the recent visitors to the Capitol Dome?

A.They could get a clear look at the dome.

B.They were impressed by the white dome’s fantastic beauty.

C.They held different views on the Capitol’s current appearance.

D.They were all disappointed at the sight of the Capitol building.

【4】The underlined word “inauguration” in the last paragraph most probably means _____.

A.tourB.taking office

C.interviewD.taking photos

【1】What are the speakers planning to do?

A.Go to a yoga class.B.Go on a hike.C.Have a race.

【2】What is the woman worried about?

A.The snakes.B.Getting lost.C.Getting too tired.

【1】When does a gap year take place?

A. Before the first year of college.

B. In the first year of high school.

C. After the second year of college.

【2】What do most people do during a gap year?

A. Get a job. B. Go traveling. C. Volunteer their time.

【3】What does James think about the idea?

A. It sounds like fun.

B. It should be very popular.

C. It might not help you get a job.

Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber in New York in 1992. As a son of working-class Jewish immigrants from Romania, times were hard and he lived with his family in a shabby single-bedroom apartment. After graduating from high school at 16, Lieber landed a job as an assistant at Timely Comics. By the early 1940s, he was a temporary editor for the company. It was at this time that he began using his pen name--Stan Lee. In 1947, two years after returning from serving for the U.S. Army, Lee married his wife, Joan. The two began their 70-year marriage and had two children.

In the late 1950s, DC Comics breathed new life into its classic superhero and experienced a significant success with its updated version of the Flash, and later with super-team the Justice League(正义联盟) of America.

To compete against DC Comics, Lee was given the task of creating their own group of superheroes. In 1961, Timely Comics changed its name into Marvel Comics after Atlas Comics, and that November saw the debut(首次亮相) of the Fantastic Four. Lee’s later famous and lasting creations of comic-book superheroes included Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and the X-men.

Over the course of his career, Lee was an icon of Marvel Comics. As a writer and editor and, at various points, both the publisher and vice president of Marvel Comics, Lee not only introduced interesting characters to the industry, but changed the way that comic books came together. He also created a cooperative workflow between writers and artists, which became known as the “Marvel Method”. Lee received a National Medal of Arts in 2008 for his innovations that revolutionized (=completely changed) American comic books.

【1】What do we know about Lee from paragraph 2?

A.He served for the U.S. Army for two years.

B.He suffered from an unfortunate marriage.

C.He had a tough and struggling childhood.

D.He adopted his pen name at the age of 16.

【2】What was the company called when Spider-Man was created?

A.Timely Comics.B.Marvel Comics.

C.Atlas Comics.D.DC Comics.

【3】What does the underlined word “icon” in the last paragraph?

A.Theme.B.Character.

C.Assistant.D.Symbol.

【4】What can be the best title for the text?

A.Stan Lee, the Godfather of Marvel Comics.

B.The Development of Marvel Comics.

C.Stan Lee, a Superhero in Comic Books.

D.The Popular Superheroes of Marvel Comics.

A.It has too much milk.B.It was too hard.C.It was too hot.

【1】How long was the baby elephant trapped in the well?

A. For 8 hours. B. For 9 hours. C. For 11 hours.

【2】What did the villagers do when they first arrived there?

A. They stood watching.

B. They cut some bananas.

C. They removed some of the soil.

【3】What did the villagers do next?

A. They removed some of the soil.

B. They pulled the baby elephant out.

C. They frightened the mother elephant away.

【4】What was the ending of the story?

A. No efforts paid off.

B. The mother elephant made it.

C. The villagers drove away the mother elephant cruelly.

1. 活动时间、地点。

2. 活动内容。

注意:（1）词数100左右；（2）行文连贯，语篇完整；（3）文中不得透露个人真实信息。

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A.Ride on a train.B.Write an article.C.Travel around the world.

Chinese knot 【5】 (indicate) that every knot is made of a single rope and named by its specific form and meaning. For example, “Happiness & Health”, “Luck and Auspiciousness (吉祥)” and “Wish you a fair wind”. By combining different knots 【6】 other well-designed things skillfully, a unique auspicious Chinese knot with many wishes 【7】 (form). And it is also worth noting that the logo for Beijing’s bid 【8】 (host) the 2008 Olympics was based on a traditional knot craft design.

Today, people are fond of Chinese knot for its 【9】 (character) form, colorfulness and deep meaning. Most commonly, the knot is used either as a hanging 【10】(decorate), such as in the home or car, or on the body like ring, earrings, hand chain or necklace.

Looking for things to do in after you’ve visited Disney World? Families should head for I-drive360: an 18-acre entertainment complex centred around a 400-foot tall observation wheel-the Coca-Cola Orlando eye that offers breathtaking views of Central Florida. There two on-site museums make I-Drive360 stand out. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology features 500 complete animal skeletons (骨骼) that provide remarkable look into the world of wildlife. Sea Life Orlando is an interactive underwater adventure allowing you to observe sea species up close from inside a thrilling 360-degree ocean tunnel.

Lake Eola Park

Located in the heart of downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is continuously rated one of the best things to do in Orlando by both visitor and locals alike. Whether you want a leisurely walk or a heart-pumping jog, you can taste the peaceful scenery along the 1.5-kilometre pathway that lines the lake. Feeling romantic?

Wonder Works

Wonder Works was actually built to look as though it was dropped upside-down on an otherwise ordinary Orlando city block! No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you—here everything is upside down! Kids of all find the 100-plus hands-on exhibits inside the striking structure just as mind-blowing, from the natural disasters-themed displays to a 36-foot-high indoor ropes course.

College Park Neighborhood

Voted ‘‘Orlando’s Best Neighborhood,” it’s here you’ll find the Dubsdread Golf Course (the only public golf course in the city), and some of the best food Orlando has to offer. In the fall, College Park plays host to a popular Jazz Festival, with as many as 10 bands playing on three stages dotted throughout the neighborhood.

【1】（小题1）What makes I-drive360 most famous?

A. The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye. B. Its size and ideal location.

C. Its two on-site museums. D. The 360-degree ocean tunnel.

【2】（小题2）If you have a mood for a walk, where would you go?

A. I-Drive360. B. Lake Eola Park.

C. Wonder Works. D. College Park Neighborhood.

【3】（小题3）What can we know about Wonder Works?

A. It has earned a lot of money. B. Many hands are working there.

C. No adult will be admitted into it. D. It is educational and entertaining.

【4】（小题4）What do the four attractions have in common?

A. They are all Orlando-based. B. They are closely located.

C. They all are seaside ones. D. They are all for children.